End of the Year Report

NY State of Health

New York State’s official health plan marketplace, NY State of Health, is in full swing! As of last week over 350,000 New Yorkers have completed their applications and over a hundred thousand have chosen their plans and coverage will begin for them on January 1, 2014. This is a 34% increase in the enrollment rates from December 9 and those who have purchased their health plan have seen a 53 percent decrease in their premium rates. In addition to this cost savings, it is estimated that nearly three-quarters of individual enrollees will qualify for financial assistance.

If you have not done so already please visit https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov, call toll-free 1-855-355-5777, or in-person through a navigator and sign up for healthcare today!

Farm Bill and Food Stamps

The House and Senate both passed their versions of the Farm Bill this year and now conference committee deliberations are underway to come to an agreement between these bills. A major point of contention in conference is undoubtedly the major disparity in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps. Over the 10-year budget window, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Senate bill would cut spending for SNAP by approximately $4 billion and that the House’s version would reduce spending by approximately $39 billion. SNAP currently helps more than 48 million Americans, nearly half of whom are children, meet their basic food needs. This program has suffered enough already due to sequestration and at the expense of millions of children and working families. The deep cuts to SNAP whether in the form budgetary reductions, categorical eligibility calculations, new work-related requirements, or mandatory drug testing are all unnecessary and unfair attacks against millions of Americans who rely on these benefits to feed their families.

Below is a statement I made on the House floor earlier this year on the issue.

Sandy Related News and Flood Insurance

FEDERAL FUNDS APPROVED TO REBUILD ELEVATE AND REIMBURSE HURRICANE SANDY STORM VICTIMS

In response to Hurricane Sandy, Congress appropriated funds to deal with several critical relief programs. This included almost $16 billion for New York City Community Development Block Grants, which will enable disaster recovery funds. I am pleased that the first tranche of CDBG funding was allocated, and will finally be disbursed. I to thank, Sean Donovan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who headed the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force set by President Obama for the input and their approval.

The Mayor's Housing and Recovery Operations - New York City Build it Back Program

The New York City Build It Back Program which falls under the New York City's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG), provides communities with resources to address a wide range of community development needs as well as, to support recovery from Hurricane Sandy, and to build resilience to the challenges of climate change and New York City infrastructure and other city services. I am encouraged to hear that all New Yorkers and interested parties have taken the initiative to become better acquainted with this process. However, I feel the pace of this program needs to be accelerated to meet the existing needs.

FEMA Releases Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps for New York City

I am pleased the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for New York City that reflect the latest refinements to the ongoing analysis of flood hazards. This release is the next step in the coastal Flood Insurance Study update. The Preliminary FIRMs replace the Preliminary Work Maps for New York City that were released earlier this year in June as an interim product. The new maps are extremely important as FEMA and the City continue to work in partnership to support resilient communities, and to avoid or reduce the loss of life and property, and the financial impacts of flooding. The Preliminary FIRMs reflect the same coastal flood risks as the Preliminary Work Maps and have now been updated to include river flooding in the Bronx and Staten Island. The release of the Preliminary FIRMs indicates the first step in the official regulatory review process. The next step is a statutory 90-day appeal and comment period, which is expected to begin in Spring 2014. Property owners and interested parties will have the opportunity to appeal the Preliminary FIRMs by submitting technical documentation to New York City during this period. Once the appeal period is over, and all appeals are resolved, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination (LFD) to the City that initiates the six-month adoption period before the maps become effective. Upon becoming effective, expected to occur in 2015, the new FIRMs will determine flood insurance rates. In the meantime, to promote higher standards for building performance and reduce potential future flood insurance costs, New York City has revised the building code to require the standards reflected in the Preliminary FIRMs for the construction of new and substantially improved structures. Information on the comment and appeals process and New York City’s updated building code is available on www.nyc.gov

Along with a bipartisan coalition in Congress, I have negotiated and introduced a solution to fix the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). “The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013” delays rate increases for about four years for primary residences that are currently grandfathered; for all properties sold after July 6, 2012; and for all properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012. In addition, as mandated by the Biggert-Waters bill, the bill directs FEMA to complete an affordability study to ensure that the program remains widely accessible and affordable to the many who are at risk of having their payments skyrocket.

JFK Airport

JFK Airport is an incredible economic engine for our community, but something must be done about the noise. That’s why I recently cosponsored legislation that would greatly reduce noise pollution created by aircraft. The bill, known as the Silent Skies Act, phases out louder aircraft engines and supports the introduction of new technology that significantly reduces the environmental impact of aircraft engine noise. This will help diversify and increase investment in the district, add value to our homes, and improve the overall quality of living in Queens.

Gun Reform

Neglecting overwhelming public opinion and widespread acknowledgement that our nation desperately needs to reform our gun laws, I believe the Republican majority has chosen not to bring any significant gun legislation to a vote. They have ignored every proposal aimed at improving our nation’s gun laws, from expanding background checks to closing the “gunshow loophole.” One bipartisan bill in particular introduced in the House, H.R. 1565, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Act, addresses most of these shortcomings and has 186 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill would provide much needed improvements to the background check system including an upgrade to the criminal history record program that will better identify violent individuals with a criminal history attempting to purchase firearms, it would also institute the inclusion of mental health records in background checks. Further, it would finally close the “gun show loophole” requiring those that purchase weapons at gun shows undergo background checks as well. Unfortunately, this legislation has not been moved out of the Judiciary Committee. In 2014, I hope Congress is given the opportunity to vote on meaningful gun reform legislation that the nation supports.

Immigration Reform

The Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill earlier this year, S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, by a substantial margin. However, Speaker of the House John Boehner has not brought a comprehensive immigration bill to the floor even though there is bipartisan support in Congress to pass one. He adjourned the House of Representatives for the remainder of the year without bringing a single piecemeal immigration reform bill to the floor for a vote. I was inspired to see movement on immigration reform on the Senate side, only to become sorely disappointed when the Republican majority in the House refused to move forward with this issue. In the upcoming year, I hope the Speaker of the House will finally allow the House of Representatives to take a vote that will address our nation’s flawed immigration system.

Budget and Unemployment Insurance

I voted in support of H.J. Res 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, in spite of it’s many flaws. The bill lifts the sequester on government spending which made indiscriminate and damaging cuts to programs like childhood education, public housing, and other vital government services and replaces it with $63 billion dollars in additional spending split almost evenly between non-defense and defense spending over the next 10 years. The budget agreement provides a welcome departure from the recent 16-day government shutdown that slowed our economic output and cost the economy $24 billion. My support of the bipartisan budget resolution is not without deep reservations. One of its most critical shortcomings is its failure to extend unemployment insurance for millions of struggling Americans. I urge Republican leadership to act in time to prevent devastation to the many unemployed Americans who need continued support as they look to recover from difficult economic times. Now is not the time to turn our backs on those in our nation who are most in need.

Foreign Affairs

I have cosponsored a Resolution, H. Res 443, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the September 23, 2013 decision of the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court that places hundreds of thousands of Dominican born persons (majority of which are of Haitian descent) at risk of statelessness.

Over 240,000 Dominican-born people of Haitian descent are at risk of harm from statelessness. This ruling, if fully implemented, could greatly destabilize an already vulnerable region. I am deeply concerned about this potential humanitarian crisis and hope that through the work of regional partners and nations, a resolution is reached that respects international standards for basic human rights.

Strengthening Transatlantic Relations

November 25- 26 I traveled to Brussels and Berlin with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) to meet members of the German Bundestag and the European Parliament. During these visits, my colleagues and I discussed the importance of maintaining a strong transatlantic alliance. We also discussed the scope of U.S. intelligence collection and addressed a broad spectrum of issues that represent the longstanding cooperation between the United States and Europe, including current negotiations towards a comprehensive, high-standard trade agreement.

Engagement with a Rising Power - China

Along with other members in the Congressional Black Caucus, I participated in a trip to China, to discuss CBC priorities in foreign policy. We raised tough issues head on including China’s poor human rights record that involves suppressing challenges to the communist party, as well as concerns about commercial cyber spying, and the intentions behind China’s military modernization. We also discussed important areas of cooperation, including U.S.-China efforts to revive the global economy, and multilateral efforts to address tough issues like Iran and Syria – some of which are bearing fruit today in the form of the P5+1 interim agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. I witnessed clear signs of China’s rapid transformation, and their commitment to continuing to deepen ties between the U.S. and China through people to people exchanges.

Honoring a World Legend

I was deeply honored to be part of the official Congressional delegation representing the United States at the memorial services of former South African President, Nelson Mandela on December 11, 2013. As I remember the legacy of Nelson Mandela, I will always remember his electrifying visit to New York shortly after his release from prison. And I will always cherish having met Nelson Mandela on several occasions — especially the laughter, stories, and insight he shared with me and other members of a congressional delegation during a wonderful lunch at his home. Thank you Madiba for all you have done not only for South Africa but for the world.